MISSION SEEKS BILATERALS WITH US OFFICIALS ON THE

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003939 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, EB/IFD/ODF - WIVEL TREASURY FOR IMF/WB OFFICE - WILEDON DOD FOR COMPTROLLER ZAKHEIM SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ECIN EFIN EINV OVIP PREL PGOV TC SUBJECT: MISSION SEEKS BILATERALS WITH US OFFICIALS ON THE MARGINS OF IMF/WB MEETINGS IN DUBAI ¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST; PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 3. ¶2. (U) AS A MAJOR DONOR TO THE RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS IN BOTH AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ AND A STEADFAST PARTNER IN OUR EFFORTS TO COMBAT TERRORIST FINANCING, THE UAEG HAS DEMONSTRATED IT IS WILLING TO GO THE DISTANCE TO SUPPORT U.S. POLICIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE POSIT THAT UAE OFFICIALS WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIGH-LEVEL U.S. DELEGATES ON THE MARGINS OF THE IMF/WORLD BANK MEETINGS IN DUBAI AND NOTE THAT SUCH A HIGH-PROFILE EVENT WOULD SERVE TO HIGHLIGHT U.S. RECOGNITION OF OUR STRONG FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UAE. ¶3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: EMBASSY ABU DHABI AND CONGEN DUBAI RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING BILATERAL MEETINGS WITH UAE OFFICIALS IF THE PRINCIPAL U.S. DELEGATES' SCHEDULES PERMIT: -- TREASURY SECRETARY SNOW AND/OR FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN GREENSPAN MEETING WITH UAE DEFENSE MINISTER AND DUBAI CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL-MAKTOUM AND TITULAR UAE FINANCE MINISTER HAMDAN BIN RASHID AL-MAKTOUM (ONE JOINT MEETING WITH THE TWO MINISTERS). -- TREASURY SECRETARY SNOW MEETING WITH DE FACTO FINANCE MINISTER MOHAMMED KHALFAN KHIRBASH, WHO MANAGES A VAST PORTFOLIO WHICH INCLUDES UAE AID TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. -- TREASURY SECRETARY SNOW AND/OR FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN GREENSPAN WITH UAE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR SULTAN NASSER AL- SUWEIDI, WHO HAS CHAMPIONED OUR BILATERAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT TERRORIST FINANCING IN THE REGION. -- WE ALSO SUGGEST A MEETING BETWEEN TREASURY GENERAL COUNSEL DAVID AUFHAUSER, UNDERSECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS JOHN TAYLOR, AND DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ENFORCEMENT JUAN ZARATE WITH FINANCE MINISTER KHIRBASH AND THE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR TO DISCUSS CONTINUED COOPERATION IN THE IDENTIFICATION, FREEZING AND INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN ACCOUNTS IN THE UAE. (NOTE: WE CAUTION, HOWEVER, THAT THE UAE INTERLOCUTORS ARE LIKELY TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF ARBIFT WITH TREASURY OFFICIALS AND REQUEST A CLEAR TIMELINE FOR RESOLVING THE MATTER. ALTHOUGH TREASURY OFFICIALS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE ARBIFT CASE, POST IS AVAILABLE TO BRIEF USG OFFICIALS, IF REQUESTED. END NOTE.) END ACTION REQUEST. ALBRIGHT